Joy of six for table-topping Nuneaton

NUNEATON ran in six tries to beat Towcestrians 38-8, taking maximum points to open up a fivepoint lead at the top of the table.

The Nuns took an early foothold through tries from Jackson Hughes and Elliott Brown and never let up, a third try from Darryl Dean putting them 19-3 up at halftime.

Hughes confirmed the bonus point after the break, with Theo Knight and a penalty try rounding off the hosts’ scoring, David Devlin-Jones with a late consolation try.

Nuneaton were able to pull clear after Sheffield fell to a second consecutive defeat, beaten 15-10 at home by Broadstreet, who remain fourth.

Matt Adcock’s try gave Sheffield the lead but Broadstreet hit back with two tries to lead 12-7, and a solitary second-half penalty sealed the victory.

Birmingham & Solihull Bees were pushed all the way on the road at struggling Bedford Athletic but eventually claimed a 13-9 victory.

Bees took a 10-0 lead after Jack Jolly’s penalty and a penalty try, only to be pegged back, as Bedford struck three penalties either side of half-time to reduce the deficit to single point. However Jolly struck another penalty to seal the win, and Birmingham remain third, five points behind Sheffield.

Old Halesonians moved up to fifth as they enjoyed a comfortable victory at home to Longton, winning 39-6.

Chris Danks and Luke Smith both crossed the whitewash twice for Old Hales, with Chris Hooper and Joe Read adding further scores in a one-sided contest. In the mid-table battle, Sandbach won a tight encounter with Derby 24-22.

Both sides traded firsthalf tries, with two Sandbach penalties giving the hosts a 13-12 edge at half-time.

Sandbach scored again to open a five-point lead before a converted try saw Derby go a point ahead, but a late Sandbach penalty proved decisive and secured the victory.

The day’s final two games saw Bridgnorth beat bottom-of-the-table

Syston 18-10, while Peterborough Lions picked up a bonus point in a 29-12 win at home to Lichfield.